Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-08-05
TWICE ENGAGED.

DO | love him! 1t is all the same, how
ever, whether | do or not. He is very
handsome, very fascinating. and perhapA
/ adore beauty all the more because | am
a little pale faced. Insignificant creature
myself. To be sure. have enormous
brown eyes. but they are my only re
deeming feature. and the fact that my
nose is ''tiptilted' cannot be denied. We
have certain amount Of money. mother
and there are only we two-so we en-
joy ourselves after our own fancy. Just
now it has led US, for the summer. to a
breezy little village among the mountains
in Cumberland.
Mr.. Clyde has followed us. of course.
We have been engaged six months and
are to be married in autumn.
Mother never liked him. He is twelve
years older than l. who am eighteen.
She says he is attracted by the money: is
man of the world, probably with debts
of honor that his wife's money will pay
But poor mamma is wrong and her only
daughter is very willful.
| shall marry Walter. for l love him.
so the matter rests.
am lying in hammock in a shady
part of the lawn: presently my cousin
Celestine comes out and takes a chair
near me. Mamma has invited her to stay
several weeks with us. and she has been
here day or two.
Celestine is thoroughly accomplished.
beautiful woman of "a.
Walter was very much impressed when
mamma introduced them. ! could see
that; though when we were alone he
only said: How marvelously beautiful
your cousin ISL
She is dangerously beautiful just now,
as she leans back in her chair.
Her gold colored hair is cooled in a
thick knot at the back, and ripples all
over her head. Her blue lawn dress is
not so high at the throat as to conceal
the faultless neck, and the sleeves are not
So long that the rounded white arm is
hidden. One jewel-an almost priceless
neutrality-suspicious. on her perfect hand.
Verify, my cousin understands the art of
dress.
Presently Walter comes up the steps
and approaches us. 1t does not occur to
me that Celestine has. from her window,
seen him approaching and come down
stairs to meet him. l am not easily
made jealous; besides, l am not well
versed in the arts of flirt; learn some
of them later. rise from the hammock
and seat myself near my cousin. 1t is
not wise thing to do, for my plain face
makes a splendid foil to Celestine's su-
perb beauty. do not think of this now,
however.
"Oh, Mr.. Clyde" she exclaims, chow
can you venture out in this heat? I
should fear speedy dissolution if I at
tempted it.
1T would not be wise for you to VEN
ture. he answered. Il should hardly
have gone myself had realized how
warm it is. l have been arranging for a
sail tonight, if you two ladies will honor
me with your company''-for the first
time looking at me.
How good of you," cried Celestine.
81 have been anxious to have a sail ever
since l saw that lovely lake. We shall
be delighted"
say nothing. Walter remarks, care
lessly, BE sure and be ready by l."
Thank you l reply guilty, 81
dom care about going"
"How provoking you are, Marjorie''
NP"'iAi IOu otlu
this morning that you wanted to have a
sail -
My dear" coolly replied, II have
changed my mind. but that does not
hinder you from going"
Certainly not!' says Walter, eagerly.
marjorie takes whims sometimes. 1
have engaged the boat; surely both ladies
will not disappoint mef'
Celestine hesitates, apparently, and
finally laughingly replies, ''Well, if Mar
Jorie won't be jealous, will CO."
Even l can see how my lovers face
lights up, and l answer calmly, "Why
should be jealous, Celestines'
She tlushes slightly, and Just then
mother calls me and leave them.
After tea Walter and l were in the
drawing room Celestine was upstairs get
ting her hat, when presently Walter re-
marked: you had better change your
mind, Marjorie, and come with us. ;"
felt that his words were not sincere
that he would much rather / did not go;
80 laughed and said, mo, am going
to finish book this evening""
And soon my cousin came down stairs
and they went without me.
After this the Irritation progressed with
astonishing rapidity. Every one in the
house was talking Of it, and in pure self
defense / accepted the attentions offered
by other men.
There is certain spice in flirting with
an engaged girl, and had plenty of de-
voted cavaliers
MIR. Clyde did not interfere with me,
nor l with him. Celestine did not men
ton his name to me. and never spoke of
him TO her.
Sometimes l wondered what they In
tended TO do, and if my recreant lover
intended to return TO his allegiance in
course of time. / was soon to find out.
1t was an excessive warm day, and
had wandered out into the woods. not
far from the house, had found compare
lively cool place under the trees, and, en-
deavoring TO read. had fallen asleep.
l was awakened by voices on the other
side of group Of saplings which hid me
from the speakers, and Immediately
recognized them.
but, Celestine, my darling. l love